Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for March, 2010

Catching up on a lot of stories as time allows.

In local ties news, Valparaiso University junior Jarad Miller (Carroll) was selected as one of 40 players to be named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award initial watch list.

The list will be updated in mid-April and the conclusion of the regular season. The Division I national saves leader and four other standout relievers will be chosen as finalists.

Miller was also named to the Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I Preseason All-American Third Team and earned several All-American honors last season.

Miller set the school’s single season saves record last year as a sophomore when he sealed the deal in 17 games, bringing his career total to 26. That also ranked second in the nation. He posted a 2.16 earned run average in 25 innings of work while opponents hit just .178 against him in 2008.

Valpo is coached by former Fort Wayne Wizards skipper, Tracy Woodson. The team also includes local standouts, senior Matt Stucky (Concordia Lutheran) and junior Justin Frane (Carroll).

Former Wizard, Kennard Jones has signed with the Newark Bears for the 2010 season.

“Kennard is an established professional who has put up good numbers in this league,” said General Manager R.C. Reuteman. “He has both speed and defensive ability which will solidify our outfield in the upcoming season.”

Jones, the son-in-law of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, begins his eighth season of professional baseball; his third stint in the Atlantic League. The Cleveland native started the 2009 season in York and put together a.271 average with 85 hits, 46 runs scored and 21 RBIs for the Revolution. He was traded to the Bears prior to the season’s end.

The 28 year-old was selected by the Padres in the 3rd Round (85th overall) out of Indiana U in the 2002 amateur entry draft. He made it as far as Triple-A Portland in 2005 and 2006.

Also of note, Jones and his wife Anisha were featured on an episode of the WE TV series “Platinum Weddings” that was originally broadcast in January. (hat tip to Paul’s Random Stuff)

Related Kennard Jones Posts:

Half Way There: A Mid-Season Look at Estranged Friars

Kennard Jones Resigns with York Revolution

York Revolution Trying Out “Short” Fort Wayne Native

Taylor baseball first baseman Ryne Otis (Ossian, Ind./Norwell) has been named the Mid-Central College Conference Player of the week. The MCC weekly award is the first for Otis this season, and the third of the sophomore’s career.

With at least one hit in each of Taylor’s five games, Otis hit .625 and slugged at 1.500 in 16 at-bats. His 11 RBI and nine runs scored accounted for 20 of Taylor’s 42 runs scored during the week. Otis hit home runs in three out of five games last week, including a blast that put Taylor up 4-1 against defending Big Ten champion Indiana in the top of the fifth inning on Saturday.

In a 9-6 victory over Indiana Wesleyan on Friday, Otis recorded an RBI in each of his four at-bats and was just a double shy of the cycle. He drove in both game-winning runs and tallied six total RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Grace (Ind.) during the Trojans’ conference opener on Tuesday.

The first baseman’s glove has also been sharp, as Otis was errorless in 42 chances last week. One of the major driving forces behind Taylor’s 18-4 start and current 13-game win streak against NAIA opponents, Otis leads the Mid-Central College Conference with 25 RBIs.